In our previous blog on how particle counters work, we looked at the physicality of what particle counters measure and the importance of calibration. In this final installment, we look at the technology behind the results. How does a particle make it from sampled air into a number on your data screen?
Best Particle Counter for Sampling 5.0 μm Particles
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- Created: Monday, 06 September 2021 14:31
As the aerosol particle counting experts, Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) recommends against the use of 0.1 CFM particle counters to sample and monitor 5.0 μm particles. Instead, the best particle counter has a 1.0 CFM flowrate model such as the Lasair Pro Particle counter to provide an adequate sample for the detection of 5.0 μm particles.
How measuring contact angles at high temperatures can help develop fuel cells
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- Created: Tuesday, 31 August 2021 16:13
courtesy of DataPhysics
Fuel cells are an emerging technology allowing the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy through for example the redox reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water. During the redox reaction the hydrogen atoms transfer their electron to the anode. The electrons are conducted to the cathode. The resulting electric current can be used to power electric devices like e.g. an electric car motor.
New Application note: Alarm Rationale for Continuous Particle Counting Systems
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- Created: Tuesday, 27 July 2021 14:08
cour
tesy of Particle Measurment Systems
This document is a description of current good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and how they can be applied to a continuous monitoring system installed within a facility. This process should enable Quality and Production teams to establish new monitoring understandings and harmonization with standards. This review will look at the configuration of alert and action levels and potential reactions, and the reporting requirements of such systems.
How Particle Counters Work: The Tiny Things We Can’t See
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- Created: Tuesday, 13 July 2021 11:39
On the surface, a particle counter is a simple device. You press a button and results tumble out. But whenever you’re measuring anything small, it’s important to educate yourself on the technology employed and understand the benefits and limitations. No measurement is absolute―all are relative to the measuring technique. For example, if we measure particles with a scanning electron microscope, it would not be a surprise to get slightly different results. We might even get vastly different results at certain sizes, because the produced response differs from the particle counter’s. In this blog two-part blog series, we look at the ingredients of how particle counters work.
Particle Types
Particles exist in a tremendous range of sizes, shapes and compositions; for example, inside a cleanroom we could measure flakes of skin, small pieces of silicon or metal, or fungal spores. The sources can be very broad.
Introducing the DVS Discovery
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- Created: Monday, 28 June 2021 15:58
The world's most advanced dual balance gravimetric sorption analyzer
Surface Measurement Systemsare excited to announce the release of the latest addition to
our DVS Instrument range, the DVS Discovery.
This instrument introduces an innovative dual balance design and combines
the detailed insight and accuracy of our previous DVS models with improved
higher throughput, maximizing research capability while reducing operator time.
Consideration and Steps for Building a Contamination Control Strategy (CCS) – Series Part 2 of 4
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- Created: Monday, 21 June 2021 15:15
How to define a Contamination Control Strategy (CCS)
In part 1 of this blog series we learned how contamination is
defined and what it means to control potential contamination. In
Part 2 we will talk about how to define a Contamination Control Strategy
(CCS) including how the new EU GMP Annex 1 draft guidelines define a CCS.
Pamas S40 and S40GO
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- Created: Monday, 21 June 2021 10:52
by Albrecht Truter
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When someone is interested in a portable liquid particle counter, we are often asked what is the difference is between a standard S40 and the S40GO? Today I will answer that question!
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Pamas S40 |
Pamas S40GO |
Calibration according to ISO 11171: 2020
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- Created: Monday, 21 June 2021 10:42
courtest of Pamas GMBH
The PAMAS calibration laboratory has successfully completed its in-depth analysis of the new standard reference material SRM 2806d. As of today, all new PAMAS systems will be calibrated in accordance with ISO 11171:2020 using calibration suspension SRM 2806d. Previous calibrations of PAMAS instruments will of course retain their validity up to their current date of expiry.
Investigation of plasma effects on implants
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- Created: Monday, 21 June 2021 10:11
courtesy of DataPhysics
Director of Dataphyscis Dr. Sebastian Schaubach will give a talk on the Investigation of plasma effects on implants as part of the webinar series plasma in the medical sector of the relyon plasma GmbH:
To characterize the surface chemical properties of a material, contact angle measurements and calculated surface free energies have proven to be reliable parameters over many years. For example, the effect of plasma treatment on a wide variety of surfaces can be quantified.
How Tubing Affects Particle Counts
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- Created: Friday, 11 June 2021 13:02
Sample tubing and particle loss is affected by the following mechanisms:
- Diffusion
- Thermophoresis
- Sedimentation
- Turbulent inertial deposition
- Inertial deposition at tube bends
- Sample tube diameter
- Charged particle loss
- Sample size
As you can see, there are a lot of mechanisms! The good news is that they have all been well studied and modeled to better help us understand how they can be a significant factor of variation between sampling or transport schemes. Read more about each mechanisms below.
Cleanroom Monitoring Series
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- Created: Thursday, 27 May 2021 14:40
courtesy of Particle Measurment Systems
Discover free contamination control educational materials, created by industry experts.
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Cleanroom Classification, Qualification, Monitoring: Annex 1 Requirements for Particle Monitoring.Get the latest Annex 1 draft insights on definitions and guidance regarding Cleanroom Classification, Qualification, and Monitoring. |
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Particle Measuring Systems announces the release of the Lasair® Pro Airborne Particle Counter
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- Created: Wednesday, 12 May 2021 14:47
New Airborne Particle Counter Provides Flexibility While Meeting
and Exceeding Data Integrity Requirements
Boulder, CO – Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) announces the
release of the new Lasair® Pro Airborne Particle Counter. Leveraging
the engineering of its flagship Lasair III particle counter, this newest
addition to the PMS fleet supports a variety of applications including
clean area monitoring (portable and remote) and classification while
meeting international cleanroom certification standards.
New ISO 11171 Standard Reference Material
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- Created: Monday, 26 April 2021 09:11
courtesy of Pamas GMBH
PAMAS is delighted to announce that it has received its first delivery of the newly certified Standard Reference Material SRM 2806d from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The new suspension material is currently been extensively tested in the PAMAS laboratory. All PAMAS master systems will be converted to the new reference material as soon as these tests are completed.
Successfully Implementing a Cleanroom Facility Monitoring System
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- Created: Wednesday, 07 April 2021 14:43
courtesy of Nina Morton, Particle Measurement Systems
How Particle Measuring Systems Support Pharmaceutical Cleanroom Monitoring After deciding on a cleanroom Facility Monitoring System (FMS) it is time to implement it. Many things can go wrong. You want an implementation that does not negatively impact production, that is smooth and successful, and is ready to hand off on schedule. Eric Gottlieb talks to Blu Buquoy about […]
Surface Tension of molten material
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- Created: Wednesday, 07 April 2021 15:00
Have you ever thought that it is possible to measure the surfacetension of molten material with the pendant drop method upto 700°C (973 K)? Or measure #wettability of molten alloy or polymers up to the same temperature?
Customizable Cleanroom Monitoring
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- Created: Wednesday, 07 April 2021 14:32
courtesy of Particle Measurment Systems
In this interview Daniele Pandolfi talks to Blu Buquoy about about customizable Cleanroom Monitoring Solutions and how Particle Measuring System‘s solutions meet our global customers needs.
Importance and Benefits of the New MiniCapt Mobile Antibacterial Active Air Sampler
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- Created: Wednesday, 07 April 2021 14:28
courtesy of Particle Measurement Systems
Giulia Artalli, Micro & Sterility Global Product Line Manager at Particle Measuring Systems, discusses the regulatory importance and benefits of the MiniCapt Mobile product features that were recently released.
Purity analysis of jet fuel according to DEF STAN 91 – 091
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- Created: Wednesday, 31 March 2021 15:53
courtesy of Pamas GMBH
Due to the stringent safety concerns within the aviation industry, the quality requirements of jet turbine fuels are extremely high and comprise of a long list of criteria. Of particular importance is the purity of the fuel. To ensure that purity analysis is accurate, traceable and uniform, the UK Ministry of Defence has commissioned the Energy Institute (EI) London to standardize selected methods of particle analysis of jet fuel. The following IP (International Petroleum) methods have become established and are now standard in International aviation:
IP 565 “Determination of the level of cleanliness of aviation turbine fuel – Portable automatic particle counter method”
and
IP 577 “ Determination of the level of cleanliness of aviation turbine fuel – Automatic particle counter method using light extinction”
Pamas S40 and SBSS
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- Created: Tuesday, 16 March 2021 11:11
by Albrecht Truter
Sometimes it is easy to think that a portable instrument is a compromise in terms of testing accuracy relative to a benchtop instrument. In the case of Pamas instrumentation that is certainly not the case!
The Pamas S40 is a portable liquid particle counter that meets the same ISO 11171:2016 calibration standard as the benchtop SBSS. The same sensor is used in both instruments.
Successfully Implementing a Cleanroom Facility Monitoring System
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- Created: Tuesday, 09 March 2021 15:34
courtesy of Nina Morton ( Particle Measurement Systems)
After deciding on a cleanroom Facility Monitoring System (FMS) it is time to implement it. Many things can go wrong. You want an implementation that does not negatively impact production, that is smooth and successful, and is ready to hand off on schedule. Eric Gottlieb talks to Blu Buquoy about some of the possible roadblocks and how the team Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) prepares for a successful FMS implementation.
Laser-optical particle counting compared to pore blockage technique
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- Created: Thursday, 25 February 2021 14:12
article courtesy of Pamas GMBH
Fluid contamination can be measured by various different analysing methods. In this blog post, we compare the laser optical method of light extinction against pore blockage.
How does the Light Extinction method work?
The illumination source is a laser diode. The laser light beam is collimated by a lens array and formed to a straight and flat beam focused by a transfer optic at the orifice. The beam passes through the measuring cell and interacts with a photo diode. The photo diode measures the light intensity behind the contaminated fluid stream in the orifice. The photo diode operates in a photo conductive method which delivers a current proportional to the incident light intensity. Each single particle flowing through the measuring cell creates a change of current on the photo diode; the sensor electronics evaluate this change of current as a particle signal. The shadow surface represents the size of the particle.
Particle sizing or Particle Counting ?
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- Created: Friday, 05 February 2021 12:30
written by Albrecht Truter
I'm frequently asked how much sample we require for laser diffraction particle size analysis. I suspect in many cases I'm asked simply because my customer suspects they might have to little sample for the test!
In any case for a dry sample we ask for at least a couple of grams of sample (about a teaspoon). For realy fine material ( less than 100 um) we can even measure 0.2 g of sample although it is not ideal. Of course if the size distribution starts at 0.5 um and stretches to 2- 3 mm we prefer a teaspoon size sample !
We are also frequently asked to measure water samples from clean drinking water to turbid raw or even waste water.
Particle Measuring Systems Releases Microbial Monitoring Instrument With Antibacterial Housing
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- Created: Wednesday, 27 January 2021 14:30
New MiniCapt® Mobile microbial contamination monitoring instrument now with antibacterial housing to further reduce contamination introduced during monitoring activities.
January 26, 2021 Boulder, CO – The MiniCaptMobile Microbial Air Sampler with a new antibacterial housing from Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) leverages the latest technologies in material science and antimicrobial design to help prevent the introduction of bacterial contamination created during monitoring activities. The robust antibacterial enclosure is easily disinfected and designed to eliminate sites for bacterial deposits and biofilm formation.
Differences in Aerosol Particle Counter Results
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- Created: Thursday, 07 January 2021 11:48
Written by
So you’ve just bought a new particle counter, you’re testing it with your fleet, and… the counts don’t match. Does this mean there’s something wrong? What happened? Why is there a difference? And is there anything you can do? We’ll discuss all of this and more in this week’s handy blog.
Top 3 webinars from Particle Measurement Systems
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- Created: Monday, 04 January 2021 12:31
courtesy of Particle Measurement Systems
Grab a cup of coffee and check out the most frequently viewed Particle Measuring Systems Webinars for 2020! Learn more about EU GMP Annex 1, Active Air Sampling, Particle Counting Variation and more!